Zambia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our value addition recycling produces various grades of industrial grease from waste oils through our low cost, high efficiency process that uses 100% of the waste oils while producing 0% waste with no negative environmental and social economic effects.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Our startup is a manufacturer of various grades of industrial grease for use in various of applications. Our product comes from a well refined recycling process that has been designed for maximum efficiency through minimal energy input. The process begins with acquisition of used oils from automobiles and other processes that are supplied to us at a fee by our numerous suppliers, usually within our community. By virtue of the primary raw material being waste, our process facilitates the empowerment of individuals and groups in our community by enabling them to become suppliers. The used oil supplied is then cleaned, processed and combined with various reagents to produce our high quality grease. The process also yields a single by-product that we turn into shoe polish. The low cost of material acquisition and processing allows us to offer a product that is of high quality yet cost efficient that we market to local automotive workshops, auto shops and small to medium scale industries.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The project started out as a means of ridding our workshop of the many liters of used oils we would end up with after work in the service and repair of automobiles. These oils if not properly disposed of pose a significant risk to the environment where they have severe effects on plant, animal and human life. To solve this problem, we would turn the used oil into grease to prevent oil spills and make them easier to move. The value addition chain developed as the grease become sought after as a cost efficient alternative to the high cost of similar products on the market. This allowed small and medium enterprises to trim operating costs and remain competitive in markets dominated by larger, more established entities. The increased demand for our product could no longer be met by used oil from our workshop. Engaging the local community as suppliers solved our problem of limited supply of used oils and partly solved the community's need for sustainable income for the underprivileged.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Our product's initial and primary aim was and still is to protect the environment, in addition to plant, animal and human health through the removal of a pollutant from circulation and turning it into an economically viable product. Which was rather successfully done. This then had the advantage of creating a value chain through our product provides some of the local community with the opportunity to become our suppliers in a potentially profitable business that would see them earn a sustainable income at a low cost of entry as compared to similar businesses and endeavors. Lastly our product currently provides and has the potential to provide even more local industries with a low cost, high quality alternative product for their grease-based lubrication needs. This in-turn gives them a competitive edge in a continuously aggressive market where they can compete with larger, more established businesses and expand to the benefit of their local communities, customers and clients.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our product is aimed at small to medium scale industries and business such as manufacturing where costs can mean the difference between success and failure. We also aim to fill in the gap for a cost efficient alternative for imported greases used by automobile workshops and mechanics in general. Further, our value chain positions individuals in the local community at a significant advantage in that they can become suppliers in the value chain at minimal entry cost while ensuring significant earnings. Lastly, our product benefits life. Human life, animal life and plant life by playing a part in environmental protection from pollution.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-01-04

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

The startup is currently under sole ownership.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

e) Secondary commodities (cars and parts, consumer durables and apparel, retail)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Our start up contributes to no poverty through the creation of a value addition chain that allows low cost entry to under privileged individuals through which they may then find a source of sustainable income.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Our start up contributes to zero hunger through the creation of a value addition chain that allows low cost entry to under privileged individuals through which they may then find a source of sustainable income that would facilitate for no hunger in their homes.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Our start up contributes to good health and well-being through the creation of a value addition chain that allows low cost entry to under privileged individuals through which they may then find a source of sustainable income that would facilitate for good health and well-being through access to nutrition and healthcare.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Our start up contributes to quality education through the creation of a value addition chain that allows low cost entry to under privileged individuals through which they may then find a source of sustainable income that would facilitate and enable then afford quality education.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Our start up contributes to clean water and sanitation by the removal of a potential pollutant from circulation and through the creation of a value addition chain that allows low cost entry to under privileged individuals through which they may then find a source of sustainable income that would enable them afford clean water and sanitation.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

Our start up contributes to safeguarding life below water by the removal of a potential pollutant from circulation.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Our start up contributes to safeguarding life and land by the removal of a potential pollutant from circulation.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

3

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our project in itself is not unique in nature as a number of producers provide similar products of similar quality. What sets us apart however is that our product aims to establish a value addition chain by which local communities are advantaged through the chain's financial and environmental benefit. Local businesses also benefit from the cost efficiency of our product.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main competitors are established manufacturers and marketers of lubricants that have established significant market share over their many years of operation. Our operation remains competitive however through the use of a recycling process and integration of local communities to keep production and related costs low.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

The project has so far been able to empower a small number of female entrepreneurs that have developed or increased their capital through participation in our value chain. The have continued to or began trading in various commodities be it on a small scale through earnings from our value addition chain.